Transcript of the beginning of the meeting:

Vladimir Putin: Good afternoon, Mr Levitin.

What services will transport companies provide to veterans during the celebrations of the 65th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War?

Igor Levitin: Mr Prime Minister, following up your directive, we held a conference call with the governments of all Russia's regions to discuss the provision of services for participants, veterans and disabled veterans of the Great Patriotic War. They appealed to President Medvedev and yourself to allow one person accompanying them one free trip. This issue was raised during the conference call; we're waiting for the government's decision.

Vladimir Putin: All right, I'll sign these documents. How will this work be organised? What do people need to know to exercise this right?

Igor Levitin: Specific transport offices have been set up in all regions. The phone numbers of regional offices and the central office of the Ministry of Transport are available on the internet. We've also issued a reminder.

Vladimir Putin: What forms of transport does this right apply to?

Igor Levitin: Railway, air, sea, river and road transport.

Vladimir Putin: You mean buses?

Igor Levitin: Yes, buses.

Vladimir Putin: So, to receive a ticket for a free ride, a participant or a veteran of the Great Patriotic War and an attendant just need to show their documents at a ticket office?

Igor Levitin: Exactly. We've distributed the list of documents that people need to get this ticket. Transport operators are not allowed turn down such people.

After this programme ends, all transport operators, regardless of what form of transport they offer, will need to submit related information to us, and we'll check this data with the Pension Fund. They must do this by July 1.

Vladimir Putin: So, a participant or a veteran of the Great Patriotic War will need to show their certificate and passport. But this will apply to the citizens of the Russian Federation as well as...

Igor Levitin: ...citizens of other countries whom we invited to Russia.

Vladimir Putin: The CIS?

Igor Levitin: Yes, the CIS. The heads of government made this decision in 2008, and we're implementing it. And we've also included their attendants in this list.

The transportation hubs of Moscow, St Petersburg and Volgograd will bear the main burden of this. Today I received information that some 2,000 people are expected to visit St Petersburg alone. In the Moscow metro, all veterans, regardless of their place of residence, will receive tickets for free rides.

Vladimir Putin: This applies to municipal transport?

Igor Levitin: Yes. We've also appealed to transport operators not to raise their rates over these days. All the transport operators agreed. There will be no price increase. And some companies will even reduce their prices.

Vladimir Putin: Good.